Activation of epithelial cells in gastritis.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori is now recognised to be the major cause of antral gastritis and a risk factor for further development of gastric cancer. This infection results in local inflammation and a modification of gastric mucosal epithelial cell characteristics. Systematic investigation for the expression of the secretory component by gastric epithelium in a personal historical series of biopsy specimens showed the expression of this activation marker in 38% of the cases, 19% also showing clear signs of H. pylori infection.


OBJECTIVE
To further appreciate the activation of epithelial cells in the chronic gastric inflammation associated with H. pylori infection and other types of gastritis without consideration of the grade of gastritis.


METHODS
Punch gastric biopsies from 36 patients (10 patients with confirmed H. pylori gastritis, 16 patients with non-H. pylori gastritis and 10 controls) were tested for the expression of ICAM-1/CD54, HLA-DP, -DQ, -DR, secretory component and bcl-2 by immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
Up-regulation of most markers was observed both in H. pylori and non-H. pylori gastritis, although secretory component, CD54 and DP expression was more closely associated with H. pylori gastritis.


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori infection appears to activate gastric epithelial cells more strongly than other types of gastritis. This suggests an active relationship between this bacterium and epithelial cells. Investigation of the up-regulationship between this bacterium and epithelial cells. Investigation of the up-regulation of secretory component, ICAM-1/CD54 or DP in gastric biopsies may serve as extensive markers in search of H. pylori gastric infections.
El Kaissouni
J
J
Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. faure@grip.u-nancy.fr
Bene
M C
MC
Faure
G C
GC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012635:Secretory Component / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012635:Secretory Component; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1